Well-Advised: Peter Pennoyer

Flip through the New York architect's favorite sources for creating timeless interiors.

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Jonathan Wallen

Stair Railings

Custom stair railings are an integral part of our projects. This railing was modeled after one in a historic house in Nashville, but we simplified the design and changed it to include swags, eagles and pineapples. The metalwork by Les Métalliers Champenois is an example of great craftsmanship in bronze. One of their great strengths is dealing with the complex geometry of the swags as they wind down to the final ballister. Each swag needs to be individually modeled and hung differently so it takes incredible skill to make these stair railings work and look graceful. LMC is an absolute standout in this world of fine metalwork. Everything they do is beautiful, from their shop drawings to finished product.

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Scott Frances

Plaster Ornaments

Plaster ornaments may not always work depending on the architecture, but when appropriate we like to use them for our projects because it adds an element that is special and unique to the house. They look the most beautiful when shown off in natural light because the shade and shadow really bring out the details. As an architect, it's a pleasure to sketch the designs then work with great artisans to produce them. This particular cupola, designed by P.P.A. (Peter Pennoyer Architects) with a frieze and band of oak leaves, lends itself to taller ceilings and was made by Hyde Park Mouldings.

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Jonathan Wallen

Mantels

We welcome the opportunity to design special mantels for our different projects. They allow us to relate the mantels to the architecture of the room while still bringing something unique and unusual to the house. For this house in Maine, we liked the idea that someone who lived here might have traveled to Morocco and brought back sections of mosaics or ceramic "zillig." We often work with Mosaic House who makes their own tiles in different patterns and colors, cuts them into shapes and then applies them in a mosaic method to achieve the tiny grout lines. The beautiful glazes and geometry of these mosaics can be extremely complicated and display an important link to this great craft that is being kept alive in Morocco.

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Peter Pennoyer

Lay Lights

A lay light is a traditional element that adds visual interest to a room but also controls and tempers the light entering the space from the skylight. It essentially creates a lightbox between the sky and the ceiling of the room. Generally used in stairs and halls, it's a great tool for bringing in light to areas that are often windowless while maintaining the integrity of the architecture. It also filters out the UV rays and improves the overall energy performance of the building because it creates another layer of insulation.

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Jonathan Wallen

Painted Wood Paneling

Decorative painting can achieve wonderful effects and trick the eye. In this photo, the walls are plain wood, the door casings poplar, and the cornices and ornament are plaster; however, all of the above is painted to look like old Cuban mahogany. Nothing in this picture is what it appears to be. There a wonderful tradition of painted surfaces that's worth considering because many of the wood species we admired in antique furniture are no longer available or come from a source that is not eco-friendly.

Thus, many of the wooden veneers today are not as beautiful as they once were. Some of these craftsmen that work in decorative painting can often achieve something more interesting than what nature can do and yet it forces you to be mindful of our natural resources.

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Christopher Mason

Paneled Dining Rooms

Inspired by the intricate details of French boiserie, we often use the same carved paneling in our projects. For this dining room, we built pockets around the windows so you can show off the architecture rather than hide the moldings, preserve wall space and not block the sunlight. The large panels also open up to reveal plenty of storage.

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Christopher Mason

Hand Hammered Door Knob

One of my favorite pieces of hardware from Nanz. With its hand hammered ridges, the knob has an interesting reflection and can give a more modern twist to more traditional French doors. It is the perfect example of how you can do unexpected things in subtle ways with hardware.

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Scott Frances

Upper Cabinets

When kitchens have very tall ceilings, upper cabinets maximize the use of storage space. The rail from the Putnam Rolling Ladder Co. adds a piece of utilitarian hardware to the cabinets and gives the room a bit of sparkle. If the ceilings are not as high, a Cramer step stool works just as well instead of a kitchen ladder.

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Lucas Allen

Butler's Window

Butler's windows are practical and fun, especially if you are having a party and have caterers and people running in and out of the kitchen. This door is clad in leather floor tile from Edelman Leather, which is extremely durable, accented with bronze upholstery studs.

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Old Print Shop

A favorite, must-visit in New York. Not only is it a great source for art reference books that are hard to find, but it also has an excellent framing shop and a wonderful print gallery with antiquarian maps, 18th, 19th, and 20th century prints. I love the architectural history of New York and they have many prints by artists and architects who documented the city over the last century with an incredibly loving eye. It's an architect's and historian's dream to go in there. Founded in 1898, the shop has an amazing link with the past, and the depth of their collections always impresses me. You can buy an important Audubon, but equally find something by a contemporary printmaker.

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